University of Oregon economist Tim Duy, who writes the widely read Fed Watch blog, outlines his takeaways from the Fed’s decision. He argues uncertainty is the biggest factor stopping the Fed from taking further steps to boost the economy.

Southwest Washington job gains: The region’s monthly employment update issued Tuesday begins with three lines from Daft Punk: “Work it harder, make it better, do it faster.” Perhaps it’s a good theme for the entire economic recovery, as productivity pushes to new heights and wages and jobs lag behind.

Washington employers added 11,700 jobs in May -- the eighth-largest monthly gain in the past decade -- but Clark County employment fell by a seasonally adjusted 300 jobs. The report shows bigger gains for Cowlitz County, but they aren’t adjusted for seasonal factors. Unemployment rates in both counties hover near 10 percent.

Another climbing indicator: A new day, a new economic gauge. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s state coincident index shows Oregon’s economic base continued to recover in May. The index reading has climbed since June 2009, after hitting a recessionary low in October 2008.